About the Artist...
Christen Jo Stone (Jo)
Artist Statement
An award winning artist, Christen Jo Stone (Jo) has developed diverse arts skills and enjoys combining these, expressed in varied organic forms.
Having worked in many media including Jewellery, Textiles, letterpress Printing, and Basketry, Jo’s work narrates the story of endangered species threatened by the destruction of their precious forest environments, including the importance of the proposed establishment of the Great Forest National Park NE of Melbourne, where she works and lives. She hopes her work will help foster appreciation of the value of our magnificent highland forests, important water catchment areas with trees creating significant CO2 absorption, stunning recreation destinations on Melbourne’s doorstep.
She also enjoys making wirework Jewellery with a Steampunk theme, still retaining the organic feel in the designs she creates.
Currently Jo has returned to her fibre and paper roots, still exploring the natural environment, expressed in embroidery, both in machine painting and hand embroidery, and various papercrafts including 3D light boxes.
Her next Exhitibition, scheduled for November 4th, 2001, will highlight the roll of pollinators in sustaining a healthy environment, the exhibition date coinciding with Australia's National Polinators Week. There will be an exciting display including her wirework, threadwork and paperarts.
Bio
Christen Jo Stone (Jo) has a Diploma of Arts in Visual Arts (GIAE) , and a Trained Secondary Teachers’ Certificate in Domestic Arts (Larnook). She has studied operating print machinery and also precious metal clay, wirewrapping, and papermaking. In Australia, Germany and Spain she has studied Basketry, in 2015 studying with 5 Danish Master Basketmakers in Denmark in their studios.
Exhibiting widely in group exhibitions, Jo’s first Solo exhibition, ‘Metamorphosis’, in jewellery, was at East Gippsland Art Gallery, 2011, recommended by artist Malcolm Boyd. In 2018 her Solo exhibition, Whispers in the Wildwood, in sculpture, celebrated the characters of our Forests. Returning to her wirework she created an elegant Steampunk Parlour for her 2019 steampunk wirework exhibition.
Featured on the FM99.1 radio’s Artist Journal, and Which Craft, she has received major awards for Jewellery Crafts, and judged jewellery at four Royal Shows in Sydney and Canberra. Two National Beading Magazines have regularly published her projects. In 2016 she was awarded ‘Best in Show’ Basketry at the Royal Melbourne show, taking out both first places.
Jo was selected by the Commissioner of the 2015 International Wicker and Weaving Festival in Nowy Tomysl, Poland, to represent Australia in the on-site competition there. She created a composite piece using Australian Cordyline leaves for the competition in two days, weaving alongside 160 basketmakers from 60 different countries, receiving a Distinction in the Artistic Category, Her work is now on display in the National Weaving Museum in Nowy Tomysl, Poland.
In 2016 she was awarded an Artist In Residence alongside 14 other Artists at the 20th Anniversary of the Toolangi Sculpture Trail, Victoria, producing a work on-site over two weeks with materials from the forest. Jo was privileged to be mentored in the project by highly respected museum curator, Maudie Palmer AO. She was also represented in the Yarra Valley Arts indoor sculpture Exhibition, Regeneration, at the event. Jo is passionate about the great forest that surrounds Eastern Melbourne and the threatened native species that call the area home, such as the Leadbeater’s Possum, and features this in her work.
Returning to Wirework in 2018 Jo has introduced many new techniques to her work. Now returning to her fibre and paper arts there are new adventures being explored.
Christen Jo Stone
CV
Qualifications:
Dip of Arts (Vis Arts) GIAE- (Monash) 1979 Australia
TSTC (Dom Arts) Larnook 1972 Australia
Solo Exhibition:
2018
Upcoming Exhibition: Whispers in the Wildwoods. Bolin Bolin Gallery. Bulleen VIC Australia
2011
Metamorphosis -East Gippsland Art Gallery, Victoria. Australia
Group Exhibitions:
2018
Toorak Village Sculpture Prize. Finalist. Toorak VIC
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show Sculpture Exhibition. Carlton VIC.
The Edrington Grand Art & Sculpture Exhibition. Edrington Homestead. Berwick VIC
'Meander'. Herring Island Sculpture Park. Association of Sculptors Victoria. Richmond VIC
Toolangi Sculpture Trail ongoing outdoor exhibition.Vic.
2017
Yarra Glen Art Show- Sculpture Exhibition Vic.
Association of Sculptors Victoria Annual Awards Exhibition 600 Bourke St Melbourne.VIC
Basketmakers of Victoria Exhibition, Boiln Bolin Gallery Vic.
Toolangi Sculpture Trail ongoing outdoor exhibition.Vic.
2016
Regenerarion' -Toolangi Sculpture Trail Exhibition, Yarra Valley Arts. Vic.
Annual & Awards Exhibition- Association of Sculptors Victoria
DRIFT- Herring Island- Basketmakers of Victoria
2015
Fracture Gallery- Federation Square- Basketmakers of Victoria
Entangled- Stonehouse Gallery- Warrandyte- Basketmakers of Victoria
Drift- Herring Island Summer Festival -Basketmakers of Victoria
St Vincent’s Hospital Exhibition - Basketmakers of Victoria
2014
Natural or Knot- Quadrant Gallery: Basketmakers of Victoria Biennial Exhibition, Victoria
Drift- Herring Is. Summer Festival -Basketmakers of Victoria
Bolin Bolin Gallery Exhibition- Basketmakers of Victoria
2013
Summer Exhibition - Quadrant Gallery, Victoria
Rhyme and Reason - Belconnen Arts Centre Canberra ACT
Open Studios Exhibition- Memo Hall - Healesville, Victoria
2008
Sydney Craft Fair Exhibition, NSW
Melbourne Craft Fair Exhibition. Victoria
Japan Art Clay Silver Exhibition, Japan
Awards:
2018 ' Best Exhibitor' Gaining 3 firsts, 3 seconds, in Basketry, Sculpture and Jewellery.
2016 'Best in Show', Basketry, Royal Melbourne Show 2 Firsts, Second, Third and Highly Commended over two categories, supported by Basketmakers of Victoria..
2016 Lilydale Art Show, VIC 1 First, 2 seconds, 1 Third Place. Victoria
2015 Represented Australia by invitation at the International Wicker and Weaving Festival Competition,
Artistic category: Distinction. Nowy Tomysl, Poland
2015 Royal Melbourne Show Craft Competition- 1st & 2nd Place Coiled Basket. Supported by Basketmakers of Victoria
2015 The Rock Show NSW 5 x 1st Place, 2 x 2nd Place and 3 x Third Place Certificates New South Wales.
2009 National Swarovski Competition- 6th Place Prize. Australia
2009,2007 Royal Canberra Show awards in jewellery, lapidary, embroidery. Canberra ACT.
2008 Sydney Royal Show, Arts Entry: Standard of Excellence Medal- Best in Show- Jewellery NSW
2008,2005 Sydney Royal Show, various other awards for jewellery. NSW
2008 National Wirework Artist of the Year 2008- Beads Etc Magazine. Australia
2008 National Silver Artist of the Year 2008 Beads etc. Magazine. Australia
2007 National Beads Etc. Reader’s Choice Award- Wirework. Australia
2007 National Metal Clay Artist of the Year 2007- Beads etc. Magazine. Australia
2002 Finalist Micro Business Awards.Vic Australia
2002, 2000,1999 Finalist: Bridal Industry Awards: Wedding Stationery and Bomboniere. Vic Australia
Publications:
2017 Album: International Wicker and Weaving Festival. Poland
2016 Le Lien Creatif (International Basketry Magazine) France
2006-2009 Regular projects published in :-
Beads etc. Magazine- Metal clay projects. Australia
Australian Beading Magazine- Wirework and metal clay projects and Artists profile. Australia
Professional Experience:
2018 Teacher at Embroiderer's Guild of Victoria Summer School. Vic
2017 Teacher at Yarra Glen and Districts Living and Learning Centre. Vic
2017 Teacher at Victorian Handweavers and Spinners Guild Summer School. Vic
2016/7 Teacher at Eastern Regional Libraries Mooroolbark, Lilydale, Healesville, Yarra Junction, Ringwood. Vic
2014 Lost Trades Fair Demonstrator, Kyneton Vic.
2011-2015 "Weeds & Reeds" "Christen Jo Originals"- Stringybark Studio Vic
Basketry, fibre arts and jewellery-Studio work and teaching.
2009, 2007, 2006 Honourary Judge, Jewellery, Sydney Royal Show, NSW
2008 Honourary Judge, Jewellery, Royal Canberra Show, ACT
2008, 2007, 2006 Organiser : The National Beadaholics Retreats: ACT
Workshop events at Greenhills Conference Centre. ACT
2004-2009 "Beadaholics" & ‘Christen Jo Originals’ ACT Australia
Teaching & creating beading, wirework, precious metal clay, jewellery.
2004-2009 Teaching at Lake Ginninderra College. Lake Nite Learning. ACT
Adult jewellery making and textiles classes
1992-2003 "Treasured Memories- Unique Wedding Stationery" Vic
Design and letterpress printing: Wedding stationery and business cards.
Bomboniere design and production for weddings, christenings etc.
1973-1984 Victorian Education Department- Victorian Secondary Colleges. Australia
Teaching textiles, art, craft, pottery, home economics, music, school magazine
1980-1984 Upper Yarra High Tech School. Vic
1978-1979 Healesville High School. Vic
1973-1977 Wonthaggi High School. Vic
Professional Development:
2017
Quadrant Gallery. Ross Miller. Life Model Sculpture Workshop and Exhibition at Quadrant Gallery - Vic Australia
Fibre Arts Ballarat . Lorelle Lehman (SA) Character Dolls - Vic Australia
2016
Fibre Arts Ballarat Matt Tommey (USA) Basketry. - Vic Australia
Tafta Forum Geelong. Liz Powell (NSW), Cabinets, Books and Paper Rusting.- Vic Australia
2015
Basketmakers of Vic. Martiene van Zulen (WA) Plant Fibre and Felt Workshop - Vic Australia
Studio of Bent Vinkler (Denmark) Working with Willow - Denmark
Studio of Ane Lynsgard (Denmark) Lace in rush and sisal - Denmark
Studio of Ulla Misser (Denmark), Zarzo Technique - Denmark
Studio of Eva Seidenfaden (Denmark) Birkina Weave - Denmark
Studio of Jette Melgren and Jan Johansen (Denmark) - Lashing techniques - Odense, Denmark
The Studio @ 54 Polly Jacobs Giacchina (USA) - Basket art, Vic Australia
Grampains Texture Jackie Abrams (USA) - Collect & Connect - Basketry, NSW Australia
Grampains Texture Barbara Mullan (Australia) - Tree of Life- Embroidery , NSW Australia
National Basketry Gathering, - Mini-workshops, Vic Australia
2014
Context, Ken Houston (Australia) - Wood carving, NSW Australia
Grampains Texture, Dr. Michael Shiell (Australia) , Environmental sculpture, Vic Australia
Grampains Texture, Ailie Snow (NZ) - Storylines -Stitched Book, Vic Australia
Dalhousen Academy, Corentin Laval & Karen Gossart (France) - Perigort technique, Germany
Lichtenfels Korbmarkt, Carsten Baier (Germany) - Willow Whip technique, Germany
Weaving by the Sea, Mai Hvid Jorgenson (Denmark) - Using wood in basketry, Spain
Weaving by the Sea, Tim Johnson (England) - Mediterranean materials, Spain
Basketmakers of Vic, Jean Stone (Australia) - Melon basket, Vic Australia
Basketmakers of Vic, Wendy Golden (Australia) - Working in willow, Vic Australia
Basketmakers of Vic, Robyn Norris (Australia) - Wreaths, Vic Australia
Beautiful Silks, Velma Bolyard (USA) - Eco dyeing, indigo, shifu & bookmaking, Vic Australia
Sturt Winter School, Caren Florance (Australia) - Booking your Journey, Book binding, Vic Australia
2013
Basketmakers of Vic, Nancy Duggan (Australia) - Jacaranda basket, Vic Australia
Basketmakers of Vic, Pat Dale (Australia) - Lomandra basket, Vic Australia
Basketmakers of Vic, Polly Jacobs Giacchina (USA) Sculptural basketry, Vic Australia
Meg Viney Studio, Meg Viney (Australia) - Plant fibre handmade papers with basketry, Vic Australia
National Basketry Gathering - Mini-workshops, ACT Australia
2011
Fibre Arts Geelong, Sandy Webster: (USA) - Master Class, Geelong, Vic Australia
Box Hill College, Semester Adv. Dip. Eng. Technology (Jewellery), Vic Australia
2005
Sydney Ceramic & Craft Centre: Certified Precious Metal Clay Teacher Levels 1 & 2, NSW Australia
1993
Melbourne College of Printing: Operating Print Machinery, Vic Australia
Collections
National Weaving Museum. Nowy Tomsyl, Poland.
Various private collectors in Australia, Canada, UK, Denmark, USA.
Artist in Residence
2016 Toolangi Sculpture Trail 20th Anniversary Project with 14 other Sculptors. Mentor: Maudie Palmer AO.
2015 Wicker and Weaving Festival. Towy Tomysl. Poland
2015 Healesville Library
Memberships
ASV Association of Sculptors Victoria
Contemporary Sculptors Association Victoria
CAS Contemporary Art Society of Victoria
YAVA Yarra Valley Arts Inc.Associate Member
Craft Victoria, Associate Member.
Basketmakers of Victoria
Australian Conservation Foundation
Friends of the Leadbeater's Possum Inc.
Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Inc.
Zoos Victoria